Mr Alan McKibbin: Many people will be glad that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has done something to encourage the entertainment of the people by abolishing taxes on the living theatre and on all sports, and by reducing taxes on the cinemas—all of which will doubtless involve the Treasury in a considerable loss. May I strike a musical note and make a suggestion, the cost of which would,...
Mr Alan McKibbin: Is the Under-Secretary of State aware that Palace Barracks is very modern and up-to-date and is situated in very pleasant surroundings where the people are very hospitable and well-disposed towards the troops? I have never heard one Service man, National or otherwise, who was not pleased to be stationed there.
Mr Alan McKibbin: Does my right hon. Friend not consider that it speaks well for the loyal people of Ulster, who are so anxious to remain in friendship with their neighbours in Eire, that throughout these raids they have remained so restrained? Does not he also consider that, inasmuch as Her Majesty's Government are going to take any action, it should not be restricted to representations?
Mr Alan McKibbin: I notice that although the Gracious Speech mentions that legislation is proposed to enable increases in pay and allowances with retrospective effect to be given to members of the police, fire and probation services, there is no mention of increases for war-disabled men and war widows. The fact that so many of us may be attending Remembrance services next Sunday for the men and women who died...
Mr Alan McKibbin: I was present at the annual conference of the British Legion to which my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser) has referred as the delegate for Ballymacarret. I wish to support my hon. Friend in his plea that the time has come when something should be done for the war disabled and the war widows. I have always considered, and have said so on many occasions both...
Mr Alan McKibbin: asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of deaths of war disablement pensioners from 1945 until the nearest convenient date, and also separate the figures of those whose pensions derived from the South African, 1914–18, 1939–45 and subsequent wars.
Mr Alan McKibbin: In view of the substantial figures, which will no doubt show a rapid increase in the next few years, does my right hon. Friend not consider that the time has now come to give immediate consideration to the British Legion's claim for an increase in the basic rate before it is too late?
Mr Alan McKibbin: asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is prepared to consider extending the period in which family allowances may be drawn from the present six months to twelve months to correspond with the period for which the book is issued and so avoid hardships where parents endeavour to save allowances over a period and then find some are out of date.
Mr Alan McKibbin: Does my hon. Friend not consider that more publicity should be given to this six months' period as busy "captive Mums" have neither the time nor the inclination to read instructions? I know of one who has lost £28 16s., and I should like to know what happens to the "Mums" missed money.
Mr Alan McKibbin: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider issuing a savings certificate, to be called a "par bond," on which no interest would be paid but which would be redeemable at any time at the same spending value as at the date when purchased.
Mr Alan McKibbin: Does my right hon. Friend not consider that these par bonds would be an indication to the world of the Government's confidence in their ability to stabilise or decrease the cost of living? Does he not consider that many investors would purchase them to nullify a possible fall in the value of the £? Will he investigate a scheme being worked on similar lines in Finland?
Mr Alan McKibbin: I had hoped that the Budget would contain something which would help old-age pensioners and persons living on annuities and small fixed incomes. They will be hit by the increased cost of bread and in one of the few pleasures left to them—cigarettes and snuff. A great deal of snuff is used in Northern Ireland; I do not know whether that is so in England. Unfortunately, unlike hon. Members,...
Mr Alan McKibbin: The British Legion's claim is that the basic 100 per cent. rate of disablement pension should be 90s. a week, with comparable adjustments for those with lower medical assessments and for war widows. In February, 1955, the basic rate was raised to 67s. 6d., and for that we were grateful. But no one can say that the cost of living has gone down since then. One thing in particular which we must...
Mr Alan McKibbin: Is the Minister aware that the latest American and Swiss aircraft are fitted with forward radar which permits them to detour bad weather zones? Could that system not be adopted to avoid the possibility of collisions in the air by civil aircraft?
Mr Alan McKibbin: (by Private Notice)asked the Secretary of State for Air if he has any statement to make about the incident yesterday morning when an Elizabethan Airliner bound from Belfast to London suffered a near-collision with an R.A.F. Vampire jet fighter over Daventry.
Mr Alan McKibbin: While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply and welcoming the setting up of a court of inquiry, may I ask whether he is aware that the public in Northern Ireland is greatly concerned about this incident and the possibility of further incidents if Royal Air Force pilots are allowed to fly in close proximity to the corridors used by British European Airways?
Mr Alan McKibbin: While I support the Motion, one of my principal objects is to cut the cost of transport between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Transport charges are heavy, owing to the distance and handling, and they are a great handicap to manufacturers. They could possibly be reduced if a tunnel were constructed. I am informed by people who run industries in Northern Ireland that the high cost of...
Mr Alan McKibbin: I am very glad that the hon. Member is here to introduce some humour, and I am only sorry that the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) is not also here. It was suggested that this conference should be held in Belfast because, apart from London and Blackpool, Belfast is the only city with, a hall which holds 10,000 people. That is where they have the boxing. The Northern Ireland...
Mr Alan McKibbin: There is also a line between Belfast and Bangor, which is important—and one between Belfast and Derry.
Mr Alan McKibbin: We call it Ulster and not Northern Ireland.
